AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN SWORDS 25 



collection includes, however, a single sword of exceptional historical 

 interest made during that time. This is a saber that was owned by 

 Col. William Dudley, of the Kentucky Militia. It is of special 

 interest since it constitutes by its design a connecting link between 

 the swords of the Kevolution and those of the War of 1812. The 

 blade of this saber ^« is unusually long and wide with a very deep 

 curve. The obverse is inscribed in a large gold script on a dark- 

 blue background with the legend " Liberte and Independence " be- 

 tween a scroll design and, extending from a cloud, an arm, the hand 

 of which grasps a sword. The reverse of the blade is decorated in 

 a similar manner with an x\merican eagle, with outstretched wings, 

 surmounted by a sunburst inclosing 15 stars, with a scroll inscribed 

 " E Pluribus Unum " above, and the date 1783 below, the whole be- 

 tween a floral and a scroll design. The grip, which is made of ivory, 

 is unusually large and is decorated with 26 narrow, parallel, vertical 

 grooves. The pommel is a silver eagle's head of antique design, 

 and the knuckle guard and quillons are formed of a single narrow 

 silver strip with a small beaded branch on the obverse. The scab- 

 bard is made of black leather with three silver mounts, one of which 

 is inscribed in four lines, " Col. Wm. Dudley was killed May 5, 1813, 

 near Fort Meigs." 



The owner of this sword was attached to the Thirteenth Regiment 

 of Kentucky Militia and on the date stated commanded a detach- 

 ment which attacked the British batteries before Fort Meigs. The 

 batteries were taken and spiked, but elated with their success the 

 Kentuckians pursued the enemy too far and were overwhelmed by 

 the British and the Indians. Colonel Dudley was killed at this time. 

 His sword was transferred to the National Museum in 1923 from the 

 Army War College. 



After the termination of the Revolution, the United States Army 

 was reduced to a very small force, and the mind of the Nation was 

 centered on peace rather than war. The only movements of a war- 

 like character in which the Government engaged were expeditions 

 against the Indians, and these did not require the use of swords. 

 Under these circumstances the industry of sword making did not 

 thrive. It was not until war with France seemed imminent in 1798 

 that steps were taken to encourage the manufacture of swords in the 

 United States. This effort did not at first include the manufacture 

 of ojficers' swords, and during the first quarter of the nineteenth 

 century the swords of this character varied greatly in design and 

 workmanship. The military swords of this period in the National 

 Museum collection contrast very strongly with the swords of the 



'8 Length, 101 cm. Blade, 85.8 cm. long, 3.5 cm. wide. PI. 9, fig. 2. 

 98266—32 3 



